Larry Hogan on Abortion

1980: Bar all abortions in county hospitals

Throughout his life, Larry Hogan has been a staunch and vocal opponent of abortion:

In 1980, as an aide to his father who was Prince George's County Executive, it was Hogan's idea for the county administration to issue an executive order barring
all abortions in county hospitals, except those where the life of the mother was at risk--even banning abortions in the cases of pregnancies resulting from rape or incest

Hogan has also supported requiring 24-hour waiting periods for women seeking
an abortion, mandatory lectures from doctors on alternatives to an abortion, and parental permission for minors to receive an abortion

Hogan supported a "Human Life Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution that would ban abortion across the country,
even in cases of rape and incest

In a 1992 voter guide, Hogan stated he supported requiring parental notification for a minor seeking an abortion, and 24-hour waiting periods after an initial consultation with a doctor.

1980s: ban abortions; 1992: don't overturn pro-choice laws

Half of [Hogan's supporters were] wearing pink Women for Hogan T-shirts--clearly intended as a visual counterpoint to a barrage of television ads from Brown and the Democratic Governors Association that seize on comments Hogan made in the early 1980s to
portray him as someone who would seek to restrict access to abortion and birth control.

The Democrats' attack ads are based on Hogan comments from 1980 and 1981 in which he supported a ban on abortions except to save the life of the mother, as well as
a "human life amendment" that would have barred abortions while possibly outlawing some forms of birth control. By 1992, Hogan had modified those positions and said abortion should remain legal.

Today Hogan says that he is still personally opposed to
abortion, but he pledges he will not try to change Maryland's laws protecting women's rights to the procedure nor to limit access to contraception.

Personally opposed but no effect since it's legally settled

"This is the most deceitful, most dishonest campaign that I have ever witnessed in my entire life," Hogan told reporters. He then called Brown a liar. "Each of Anthony Brown's campaign ads are completely false, and they are filled with absolute lies,"
Hogan said. Brown's TV ads zero in on social issues.

Hogan said he personally opposes abortion, but since the matter has been legally settled in Maryland, he will not, as governor, try to roll back the law. "Anthony Brown is running an ad that says
that I oppose a women's right to choose, even in the case of rape and incest. That is an absolute lie. It's not my position now, and it's never been my position my entire life. Here are the facts.
The facts are nothing will change on abortion with me as governor," Hogan said. "For him to try to scare women by misrepresenting and blatantly lying about me and my position is disgraceful."